The next major event for the Freshmen Band students is Solo and Ensemble Contest. This event will take place on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Crestwood High School in Mantua. I thought I would take a moment to answer some frequently asked questions about this important event.
1. What is Solo and Ensemble?
Solo and Ensemble Contest is an event sponsored by the Ohio Music Education Association. Students have the opportunity to perform a solo or as part of an ensemble in front of an adjudicator. (All adjudicators are music teachers with at least five years of teaching experience.) Students will earn a rating based on their performance. (I=Superior, II=Excellent, III=Good, IV=Fair, V=Poor)
2. What time is Solo & Ensemble Contest?
Contest begins at 8:00 a.m. and concludes at 5:00 p.m. We will receive a schedule of specific performance times approximately one week prior to contest. (I will distribute it to students as soon as I get it and post a copy here as well.) Students are only required to be at the event for their performance time. They are not required to stay for the entire day.
3. Where do students perform at Solo & Ensemble Contest?
Solo & Ensemble Contest is held at Crestwood High School in Mantua. Our school will be assigned a 'homeroom' where we can keep jackets and cases. We will perform in classrooms throughout the school.
4. How do students get to and from Solo & Ensemble Contest?
Their will be a school bus to provide transportation for students. Or, students have the option of riding with their parents. More details about this when we know the specific performance times.
Other quesitons or concerns? Please don't hesitate to call or email!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
What I Learned From the Band Exam . . . . .
I spent a healthy amount of time last week reading student responses to two essay questions on the midterm exam. Of the two questions, the second gave me much insight. In the essay prompt, students were asked to name and discuss two areas in their playing they would like to improve in the second half of the school year.
Can you guess what over half the students discussed in their essay?
Overwhelmingly, students wrote about improving their work ethic and their ability to practice and get better on their own.
I know, right? Who could have guessed?
So, in an effort to assist students in their goals, we are going to be using practice charts during the third grading period. It is my belief that there are quite a few students who spend some amount of time practicing their instrument outside of our band rehearsals. However, is that time being used effectively? Are students using this time productively?
If you follow this link and click on the Practice Information folder, you will see information the students received this past week in class. Our practice goal is for each student to create four, thirty minute practice sessions over a two week period of time. My hope is that this allows students flexibility in managing their time. (For example, they could practice only on the weekends. Or, they can come down to band during I/E two times a week. Or maybe a combination of both. Whatever works best.)
Practice charts will be due every two weeks. Students will earn ten points for each practice session chart completed, the goal being to earn full credit (40 points) every two weeks. If a student is only able to complete three sessions, that is okay. Still turn the practice charts in for partial credit. No practice session will be counted for credit without a parent signature.
The practice charts will be included in the formative (or 10%) part of the grade. Not completing them will not significantly impact a student's grade, however it is unlikely that a student will be able to earn an 'A' without completing them.
In addition to the practice chart itself, I also gave the students suggestions on how to structure their practice time and how to practice, especially on a difficult passage of music. I am hopeful these tools will not only help the students grow and mature in their musicianship, but also their independence as young students.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. :-)
Can you guess what over half the students discussed in their essay?
Overwhelmingly, students wrote about improving their work ethic and their ability to practice and get better on their own.
I know, right? Who could have guessed?
So, in an effort to assist students in their goals, we are going to be using practice charts during the third grading period. It is my belief that there are quite a few students who spend some amount of time practicing their instrument outside of our band rehearsals. However, is that time being used effectively? Are students using this time productively?
If you follow this link and click on the Practice Information folder, you will see information the students received this past week in class. Our practice goal is for each student to create four, thirty minute practice sessions over a two week period of time. My hope is that this allows students flexibility in managing their time. (For example, they could practice only on the weekends. Or, they can come down to band during I/E two times a week. Or maybe a combination of both. Whatever works best.)
Practice charts will be due every two weeks. Students will earn ten points for each practice session chart completed, the goal being to earn full credit (40 points) every two weeks. If a student is only able to complete three sessions, that is okay. Still turn the practice charts in for partial credit. No practice session will be counted for credit without a parent signature.
The practice charts will be included in the formative (or 10%) part of the grade. Not completing them will not significantly impact a student's grade, however it is unlikely that a student will be able to earn an 'A' without completing them.
In addition to the practice chart itself, I also gave the students suggestions on how to structure their practice time and how to practice, especially on a difficult passage of music. I am hopeful these tools will not only help the students grow and mature in their musicianship, but also their independence as young students.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. :-)
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Happy New Year and all that jazz . . .
Welcome back!
I hope that everyone enjoyed a restful and relaxing holiday break. After the hectic December concert season, I always welcome the much needed time away. I was glad to see everyone this past week!
This coming week marks the midterm exam time. For band, these means participating in a two part assessment. Tomorrow, Monday January 14, all students will take the written part of the exam. This is made up of fifty multiple choice questions and two essay questions. The test will be taken in the auditorium during our regular class time. During our exam time on Wednesday, students will take the performance portion of the exam. All students are required to perform six scales in small groups (between two and four students per group).
Students received a study guide in class this week outlining the details of the exam as well as the tools that will be used to evaluate them. Hopefully, you have heard some practicing and seen some studying this week!
After exam week, we will direct our attention to preparing for solo and ensemble contest (February 16) and our next concert in March. Look for more details on this in my next post.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Here is hoping the freshmen have a great exam week! :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)